Almunia for England

There is speculation in the English papers that Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia may declare for England. Almunia has never played at senior level for Spain and it does not seem likely that he ever will. Under residency laws, he would be eligible for England and, let’s face it, they need a decent keeper.

Of course, this is not a new development in international football. Jack Charlton’s Republic of Ireland team called up as many second and third generation Irish men to the cause as he possibly could. Indeed, he even got them wearing Irish shirts when they didn’t actually have a drop of Irish blood in them – but we still love you Tony Cascarino.

That said, it must be difficult for the more xenophobic Engerland fan to see an Italian in charge of their national team and read that a Spaniard would become first-choice keeper over stout-hearted Englishmen. Could it get worse? How about a German striker? I doubt that Capello would complain. You can just imagine the commentary were Engerland to win the next World Cup: “And England have beaten Brazil thanks to a wonder goal from England’s Kurt Wolfgang von Bismarck whose grandfather was at Dunkirk – in a Stuka. Well, Motty, what do you make of that?”